oleic acid

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a colorless, odorless, liquid, water-insoluble, unsaturated acid, C 1 8 H 3 4 O 2 , obtained from animal tallow and natural vegetable oils, in which it occurs as the glycerol ester: used chiefly in the manufacture of soap, commercial oleates, and cosmetics.

oleic acid

/ əʊˈliːɪk /

noun

1. a colourless oily liquid unsaturated acid occurring, as the glyceride, in almost all natural fats used in making soaps, ointments, cosmetics, and lubricating oils. Formula: CH 3 (CH 2 ) 7 CH:CH(CH 2 ) 7 COOH Systematic namecis-9-octadecenoic acid

oleic acid

/ ō-lē′ĭk /

1. An oily liquid occurring in animal and vegetable oils and used in making soap. Chemical formula: C 18 H 34 O 2 .

Word History and Origins

Origin of oleic acid¹

First recorded in 1810–20

Word History and Origins

Origin of oleic acid¹

C19 oleic, from Latin oleum oil + -ic

Example Sentences

Moreover, melanoma cells pretreated with oleic acid survived better in the blood after intravenous injection into mice than did untreated melanoma cells.

From Nature

Full-blooded Wagyu meat is touted by the industry to have less high oleic acid and lower saturated fat.

From Washington Times

These pods also contain seeds which are rich in oleic acid which has been linked to higher levels of "good" cholesterol in the body.

From BBC

Wagyu has three times the amount of mono-unsaturated fatty acids compared to other beef breeds, meaning it’s higher in unsaturated fat and oleic acid, which is said to be responsible for the rich flavor.

From Washington Times

Many insects release oleic acid at death, and honeybee larvae release beta-ocimene to signal their need for food.

From Scientific American